BEIJING - CHINA voiced its concern on Tuesday over what it said was an increasingly uncertain situation on the Korean peninsula, where close ally North Korea is pushing ahead with plans for a rocket launch.

China's foreign ministry made its strongest public comments on the recent spike in tensions surrounding North Korea shortly after the isolated nation's premier, Kim Yong-Il, landed in Beijing for a five-day visit.

While the North insists that the launch, scheduled for April 4-8, is for a communications satellite, the US believes the real aim is to test a long-range ballistic missile that could, in theory, reach Alaska.

'At present, the situation on the Korean peninsula is rather complicated with an increasing number of uncertain factors,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters. 'We express concern over this.'

Despite his comments, analysts said China was unlikely to pressure North Korea too heavily over the rocket launch and the nuclear talks during Mr Kim's trip.

'The Chinese have more influence (on Pyongyang) than anyone else, but the North Koreans are going to do what they want to do,' said Daniel Pinkston, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group. -- AFP